Heel cushion insert



March 31, 1953 KRlEGEL 2,632,964

HEEL CUSHION INSERT Filed Aug. 50, 1951 L/UACH/M KF/EEEL INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,632,964 i HEEL CUSHION INSERT Joachim Kriegel, Astoria, Oreg Application August so, 1951, Serial no. 244,299

This invention relates to improvements in foot by providing a spring cushion either in the form of a heel insert as above mentioned, or in the form of an insole.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation of the heel portion of a shoe and an outline of a human foot disposed within the shoe and resting upon an insert made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged top-plan view of the insert shown in Figure l in an open position to illustrate the arrangement of the compression springs within the insert.

Figure 3 is a top-plan view of the insert in folded form and ready for placement within a shoe.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of an insole showing the invention applied thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1 reference numeral 1 indicates generally the rear portion of the upper of a low shoe provided with the conventional heel 2 in the usual manner and 3 indicates generally the invention as a heel pad disposed between the heel of the wearer and the heel of the shoe. In 7 this particular installation it is to be assumed To the section 5 I secure the bottom ends of a plurality of compression springs generally indi- 3 Claims. (01. s ag-3'1 cated at 7 whose upper ends bear freely against the underside of the folded-over section 4.

As best illustrated in Figure2, the springs are arranged in longitudinal rows throughout the length and width of the insert and gradually diminishin strength from the outside to the inside ofthe insert. For example, the springs 8 in the outermost longitudinal row are made of wire of a predetermined gauge and the remainder of the springs in each longitudinal row gradually diminish in the gauge of wire so that the load applied to the insert by the heel of the user will be yieldingly urged to the left hand side of the heel as viewed in Figure I to distribute the weight over the entire heel and to prevent its wearing toward the right as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 as aforesaid.

The material from which the insert is made may be plastic of either flat formation as shown in Figure 4, or shaped as shown in Figure 1 to conform substantially to the contour of the bottom of the heel of the user. The same applies to the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5. It is also to be understood that either form of the invention may be made of leather, or any other suitable self-conforming material if desired.

The bottom ends of the various springs employed in the invention may be secured to the bottom section 5 in any approved manner.

Although I have shown and described a multiplicity of springs as the resilient means disposed between the top and bottom sections, it is to be understood of course that various other types of resilient means may be employed such for instance as sponge rubber and the like, provided of course that the density gradually diminishes from one side of the insert toward the other.

Regardless of the type of material from which the article is made, I provide a limit-stop for the compression of the top section under a load toward the bottom section beyond a predetermined degree. The limit-stop comprises a downwardly tapering projection 9 depending from 'onto the section 5 as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

the underside of the section 4 and adapted for engagement with a correspondingly tapered stabilizing recess l0 formed in the section 5.

While I have shown particular forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe insert comprising in combination a single piece of material folded over on itself to form a top and bottom section, and shaped to cover the inside of the heel portion of a shoe, a plurality of compression springs arranged in spaced apart longitudinal rows throughout the length and width of the insert and bearing against the top and bottom sections, the springs in each row gradually diminishing in size from one outside edge of the insert to the opposite side thereof.

2. A shoe insert comprising in combination a single piece of material folded over on itself to form a top and bottom section, and shaped to cover the inside of the heel portion of a shoe, a plurality of compression springs arranged in spaced apart longitudinal rows throughout the length and width of the insert and bearing against the top and bottom sections, the springs in each row gradually diminishing in size from one outside edge of the insert to the opposite side thereof, and cooperating means carried by both sections for limiting the movement of said top section under a load toward said bottom section;

3. A shoe insert comprising in combination a single piece of material folded over on itself to form a top and bottom section, and shaped to cover the inside of the heel portion of a shoe, a plurality of compression springs arranged in spaced apart longitudinal rows throughout the length and width of the insert and bearing against the top and bottom sections, the springs in each row gradually diminishing in size from one outside edge of the insert to the opposite side thereof, and cooperating means carried by both sections for limiting the movement of said top section under a load toward said bottom section, said means comprising a downwardly tapering projection depending from the underside of the top section for engagement with a corresponding tapered recess formed in said bottom section,

JOACHIM KRIEGEL.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 20 file of this patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

